Audio CD review:
The Saw Doctors - Villains?

The Saw Doctors - Villains?

Band: The Saw Doctors Title: Villains? Rating: Release Date: Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Villains 2: This Is Me - The Saw Doctors, Carton, D. 3: Still Afraid of the Dark 4: Happy Days - The Saw Doctors, Doherty, Pearse 5: Bound to the Peace 6: DarkWind 7: Always Gives Me More - The Saw Doctors, Doherty, Pearse 8: I Know I've Got Your Love 9: Chips 10: DNA - The Saw Doctors, Doherty, Pearse 11: Still the Only One - The Saw Doctors, Stevens, P.

Edgy and just a little dark You need to allow some time for all the different styles and sounds to become familiar and release their charms. I've come to understand that you can not judge a new Saw Doctors album on the 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd listen. "Villains?" is no exception. The title track, which opens the album, at first listen is a strange, discordant dirge with voicebox vocals and a slurred, overpowering bass line. What's this? Where are the happy, joyful Saw Doctors? This is followed by the bouncy "This Is Me", the tender "Still Afraid of the Dark", the loping "Happy Days", the powerful "Bounds to the Peace". . . I think you get the idea. "Villains?" doesn't let you settle into a comfort zone, as a listener. It's edgy and just a little dark. This is a new side to the Saw Doctors and, while it takes a little getting used to, in the end it is well worth the effort. Hit or Miss I like the album. As a bigtime doctors' fan I circled the calendar for the day this CD was released as an import. . . . I don't love it. Some songs they have been playing live for a while just don't measure up as a studio version. . . such as "always gives me more" and "DNA". . . as well as "Villians" although that holds up a little better. . . it's only because they're stage shows are so good that these songs lose their luster. . . . "this is me", "bound to the peace", "darkwind" are the classic Davy vocals that seperate this band from any other. . . . and suprisingly "Happy Days" is my absolute favorite track on the album. . . Mr. Doherty has been getting more PT as time goes by and this track proves it is well worth it. . . "still afraid of the dark", "I know I got your love" and "still the only one" all ballads are listenable as all saw doctors tunes are. . . but I would venture to say they could possibly be the 3 worst songs they have put on a CD. . . they just don't seem to go anywhere. . . If this album came from any other band. . . it would be unbelievable. . but coming from my favorite band. . . i'm happy but not psyched. Villians is one of their best! The CD has a unity that many of their Cds are lacking and, better yet, there are no throw away songs here. For anyone who thought "Same Old Town" was a brilliant CD, the Saw Doctors' Villians? certainly gives it a run for its money. From the surprisingly dark sounding "Villians" to the lively "This is Me," "Bound for the Peace," Happy Days," and "She Always Gives Me More" the band's execution of this material is flawless. As great a live band as they are, this CD captures their spirit and energy well. It was a long time in the making, and on the brief side (39 minutes), but every song is a gem. Well worth the wait. You can see a complete list of all The Saw Doctors discography, or go back to the The Saw Doctors tabs